The duo who founded the Swedish black metal band Golgata in 2014 were both born and raised in the southern part of Sweden, and we’re told that the landscape of their region became a vital part of their inspiration, which has carried through to the conception of their forthcoming second album, Tempel. Satanath Records, who will be releasing it on November 30, describes it as “a journey through barren landscapes on a quest for the remedy of this bitter state called living”, and a representation of “the beauty of the human darkness and how it sometimes is the only factor for survival”.
Satanath also recommends the music for fans of Skogen, Grift, and Fellwarden, among others, and those references are good signposts for Tempel’s immersive, melancholy atmosphere and the feeling of reverence that comes through the music, along with its sensations of panoramic sweep and unchained fury.
Today we’re presenting the third track from the album to be revealed so far, along with a strong recommendation that you check out the first two as well.
The subject of today’s premiere, which is presented through a video that provides the Swedish lyrics, is “Råttfångarens dans” (the rat catcher’s dance). With an imposing, mountainous sound the music slowly heaves and groans, and then the riffing quickly reaches a boil, buzzing and burning over a muffled hammering rhythm. The trilling leads add an aura of desperate pain to this grim and deleterious storm, and the feeling of misery deepens as the drums relent. The stricken melody moves in grand waves, coupled with the reverberating tones of savage roars and caustic howls, and the music becomes more majestic and mythical thanks to the rising of solemn choral voices, which briefly stand in isolation just before the end.
The two previously released tracks are “Med din kyss kom mörkret” (which is free to download at Bandcamp) and “Du stod vid min grav“. In both of them Golgata continue to create dark, immersive atmosphere, magisterial panoramas, and dynamic intensity (including haunting acoustic accents and blazing frenzies, stately passages of heartbreak as well as outbursts of tumult and torment). The songs also again feature varied voices, with soprano singing in the mix. Of these two, “Du stod vid min grav” is particularly mesmerizing in its beautifully tragic sounds.
Satanath Records will release Tempel in a jewel-case CD edition with a Pit-Art CD and an 8-page booklet, limited to 500 copies. These editions are available for pre-order now. All three songs we’ve discussed above can be streamed below.
PRE-ORDER:
https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat300-golgata-tempel-2020
GOLGATA:
https://www.facebook.com/Golgata-977034225680712/
TRACK LIST:
01. Tempel
02. Månspegel
03. Råttfångarens dans
04. Låt klockorna klämta
05. Du stod vid min grav
06. Rädsla är allt jag har
07. Bojor
08. Med din kyss kom mörkret
Length – 37:06